NOF Energy on fact-finding mission in US to explore shale gas opportunities

NOF Energy is leading a fact-finding mission to the United States to learn from its experiences in the shale gas industry

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George Rafferty, chief executive of NOF Energy

NOF Energy, the business development organisation for oil, gas, nuclear and offshore renewables sectors, is leading a fact-finding mission to the US to learn from the countries experiences in the shale gas industry.

The group, which is made up of NOF Energy executive directors, board directors and member companies such as LV Shipping and Suretank Ltd, will visiting Oklahoma and Louisiana next week to meet Government departments, shale gas operators and supply chain companies.

The delegation will be given an overview of the US shale gas industry by representatives from the Oklahoma City University Energy Management Faculty and North Louisiana Economic Partnership.

In addition, tours of a shale gas production site and supply chain manufacturing facilities will be supplemented by meetings with shale gas industry executives. Delegates will also receive a tour of the Caddo-Bossier Port in Louisiana to highlight the impact of shale gas has made on port operations.

The visit includes a meeting with Oklahoma’s former Secretary of Energy, Mike Ming, who has recently become head of General Electric’s Global Research Centre.

George Rafferty, Chief Executive of NOF Energy, said: “As interest in shale gas increases it is vitally important companies with transferable skills, products and services, have a comprehensive understanding of this industry.

“The impact of shale gas on the United States economy and its energy industry has been extremely positive, so it is only natural for other countries, such as the UK, to want to exploit their own resources.

“The Government continues to signal its support for the development of a UK shale gas industry, which has been backed up by the recent investment made by Total in the sector. Therefore it is only prudent that the preparation work is done to form a viable, robust and knowledgeable supply chain that is able to meet the requirements of operators.”

The existing UK energy sector supply chain will have a role to play in a British shale gas industry, but it is essential that, before we even get to that stage, we fully-understand the requirements of the sector in terms of technologies, services and competencies.”

Rafferty added: “More than 60 percent of our members have expressed an interest in shale gas, so this is a very important visit for this organisation. It will enable NOF Energy to provide our membership with a contemporary understanding of the development of the shale gas market and help them prepare for, when the opportunities arise, the growth of UK developments.”